Combination cigarette snuffer, ejector and ashtray



Mam-h 17, .1959 J. F. SMILLIE 2,877,774

JGOMBINATION CIGARETTE SNUFFER, EJECTOR AND ASHTRAY Filed April 14, 1958 I Q I2 v .v v I I I 2 22 J I I, I

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v JOHN F. SMILLIE BY I M & jaw-x,

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q M h 17, 1959 J. F. SMILLIE 2,877,774

COMBINATION CIGARETTE SNUF-FER, EJECTOR AND ASHTRAY Filed April 14,1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 i 46 48 I i 48 2 5 i I 5 v 8 58 5 i l4 4 5 I 30 I 22 l I l March 17, .1959 J. F. SMILLIE 2,877,774

COMBINATION CIGARETTE SNUF'FER, EJECTOR AND ASHTRAY Filed April 14. 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.8

" INVENTom JOHN FfSMILLlE BY I United States PatentO COMBINATION CIGARETTE SNUFFER, EJECTOR AND ASHTRAY John F. Smillie, Escondido, Calif.

Application April 14, 1958, Serial No. 728,264 7 6 Claims. (Cl. 131-235) The present invention relates generally to smokers equipment and more particularly to a combination cigarette snuffer, ejector and ashtray.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snufier having means for ejecting an extinguished cigarette therefrom into an ashtray to which the snuffer is attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snuffer which ejects the cigarette by means of a simple, self-closing mechanism operable by one finger.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigar'ette snuffer and'ashtray combination which is adaptable for use as a drawer type unit, such as in an automobile, the ejector mechanism being actuated by the closing of the drawer.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the cigarette snuffer and ashtray;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

, Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4, but with the snufl'er open in ejection position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

.Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the snufier in open position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ashtray used as a drawer unit, portions being cut away and portions of a supporting structure being indicated in broken line; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Figure 1,; but showing an alternative push plate arrangement for actuating the ejector.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawings.

T The device includes an elongated ashtray 10, which is illustrated as a simple rectangular box, having inwardly turned flanges 12 along both uppe'r longitudinal edges. The snuffer is mounted at one end of the ashtray on a mounting plate 14 which is secured to the ashtray end wall 16 by means of rivets 18, or the like shown in Figure 4. Extending from the lower portion of the mounting plate 14 are two laterally spaced lugs 20 in which are journalled the ends of a hinge pin 22, carrying a tiltable base plate 24. Projecting upwardly from the base plate 24 adjacent the center of the hinge pin 22 is an axis member represented as a simple upright support 7 plate in a suitable manner.

2,877,774 Patented Mar. 1 7,

pin 26, having its lower end rigidly fixed to said base Mounted above the base plate 24 is a cigarette receiver or snufler 28 comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical metal sleeve elements 30, together constituting a cylinder slightly larger than a conventional cigarette, said sleeve elements each having upper and lower opposed ear portions 32 extending from each end of one longitudinal edge thereof. The ear portions 32 are pierced to fit the support pin 26 so that the sleeve elements are pivotally mounted on the support pin in an upright position. As later described, the pin 26 also moves the sleeves so that they pivot about pin 22 at the time the sleeves pivot about the pin 26. The upper ends of the sleeve elements 30 are flared to provide wide entry or mouth portion 34 and the structure is stiffened by gussets 36 extending along the edges of the sleeve elements from the lower ends to the upper edges of the mouth portions, on the side remote from the ears 32.

Extending inwardly of the ashtray from the upper edge of the mounting plate 14 is a stop plate 38 having an arcuate notch 40 to fit the sleeve elements 30, so that the receiver or snuffer 28 rests upright against the stop plate with the sleeve elements closed or held together, said stop plate having a small slot 41 extending from said notch to clear the upper end of the support pin 26. To ensure that the sleeve elements 30 are normally closed, a spiral torsion spring 42 is fitted around the support pin 26, the, ends of said spring engaging the edges of the sleeve elements and forcing them together. Extending outwardly from the upper edges of the mouth portions 34 remote from the gussets 36 are wings 44 having downwardly turned ends 46, the lower edges of which are curved and bent under to form rocker tabs 48. Projecting from the upper corners of the mounting plate 14 are two retaining arms 50, the ends of which are upturned to pro-. vide detent tabs 52 against which depending rocker tabs 48 on the ends of the wings 44 bear.

The snufier is operated by an actuating yoke 54 having a cross bar 56, which is pivotally attached to the free end of the base plate 24, and a pair of upright arms 58 which. extend through the flanges 12, the upper ends of said arms having push buttons 60 secured thereon. The base plate 24 may be made in one piece as shown, with the ends merely wrapped around the hinge pin 22 and cross bar 56, or can be built up as desired.

To extinguish a cigarette, the lighted end is inserted in the receiver 28 and may be stubbed against the base plate 24 if the cigarette is of suflicient length. The receiver or snufier parts quickly conduct heat away from the cigarette and extinguish the fire, and the butt can then be dumped into the ashtray 10 by depressing either of. the push buttons 60, as indicated in Figure 6. This action pushes the actuating yoke 54 downwardly, depressing the base plate 24 and causing the support pin 26 to tilt away from the mounting plate 14. As the sleeve elements 30 are pivoted about the pin 22 in unison and on the support pin 26 they are caused to separate and swing outwardly, as in Figures 5-7, since their upper wing portions 44 have tabs which are held back by the detent tabs 52, the rocker tabs 48 rocking slightly on the detent tabs to accommodate the swing action of the sleeve" elements. With the base plate 24 tilted and the receiver" or snuffer 28 opened, the cigarette 62, indicated in broken The unit is also suitable for use as a drawer type unit for installation in an automobile or the like. Such an installation is shown in Figure 8, in which the ashtray 70 is fitted with suitable guide rails 72 to ride on runners 74 built into the instrument panel 76 of a vehicle, the vehicle structure being indicated in broken line. The actuating yoke 54 is dispensed with, but otherwise the ashtray and snuffer assembly is as described above. Fitted to the front end of the ashtray 70 is a push plate 78 made to match and fit the surrounding portions of the instrument panel 76, said push plate being pivotally attached to the front lower corner of the ashtray by pins 80. Secured to the inner face of the push plate 78 is an actuating bar 82 which extends through a slot 84 in the ashtray wall 16 and engages the extended upper end of the support pin 26. Attached to the front face of the push plate 78 is a knob 86 by which the ashtray may be pulled out.

When a cigarette has been placed in the receiver or snutfer 28, the drawer is closed by pressing on the push plate 78. This initial action causes the push plate 78 to pivot on the pins 80 and the actuating bar 82 is forced inwardly of the ashtray, as indicated in dashed lines, carrying with it the support pin 26 and so opening the sleeve elements 30 as previously described. A spring similar to the spring 42 returns the receiver or snulfer 28 to the closed position and the push plate 78 is normally flush with the instrument panel 76.

A further modification is shown in Figure 9, in which the structure is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, except that the push buttons 60 are replaced by a unitary push bar 90 of generally flat material. The push bar 90 is substantially U-shaped and comprises a cross plate 92 having a pair of tongues 94 extending from the ends thereof, said tongues being fixed to the upper ends of the arms 58 of the actuating yoke 54, so that pressure on any part of the push bar will operate the ejection mechanism. The cross plate 92 may have an arcuate notch 96 to provide clearance around the mouth of the receiver 28.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A combination cigarette snutfer, ejector and ashtray, comprising: an ashtray having substantially upright walls; a mounting plate fixed to a wall of said ashtray; an axis member mounted on said mounting plate for tilting movement of the upper end of the axis member away from said mounting plate; a cigarette snuffer comprising a pair of similar, opposed and vertically elongated semi-cylindrical sleeve elements, pivotally attached at one pair of corresponding longitudinal edges of the sleeve elements to said axis member; means for tilting said member; and means for restraining portions of said sleeve elements spaced laterally of said axis member against tilting therewith, whereby the sleeve elements are pivotally shifted about said axis member and separated to release a cigarette contained therebetween.

2. A combination cigarette snuffer, ejector and ashtray, comprising: an ashtray having substantially upright walls; a mounting plate fixed to a wall of said ashtray; an axis member mounted on said mounting plate for tilting movement of the upper end of the axis member away from said mounting plate; a cigarette snutfer comprising a pair of similar, opposed and vertically elongated semi-cylindrical sleeve elements, pivotally attached at one pair of corresponding longitudinal edges of the sleeve elements to said axis member; manually operable actuating means connected to said axis member and extending externally of the ashtray for tilting said axis member; and fixed detents on said mounting plate engageable with the upper portions of said sleeve elements, whereby the sleeve elements are separated when said axis member is tilted.

3. A combination cigarette snuffer, ejector and ashtray, comprising: an ashtray having substantially upright walls; a mounting plate fixed to a. wall of said ashtray; a normally horizontal base plate pivotally attached to the lower portion of said mounting plate for tilting motion about a horizontal axis; and an axis member being fixed to said base plate; a cigarette snuffer comprising a pair of similar, opposed and semi-cylindrical sleeve elements each pivotally attached at one inner edge to said axis member; and spring means biasing said sleeve elements together; manually operable actuating means for tilting said base plate and said axis member; and means for restraining portions of said sleeve elements spaced laterally of said axis member against tilting therewith, whereby the sleeve elements are pivotally shifted about said axis member and separated to release a cigarette contained therebetween.

4. A combination cigarette snutfer, ejector and ashtray, comprising: an ashtray having substantially upright walls; a mounting plate fixed to a wall of said ashtray; a normally horizontal base plate pivotally attached to the lower portion of said mounting plate for tilting motion about a horizontal axis; and an axis member fixed to said base plate; a cigarette snutfer comprising a pair of similar, opposed and semi-cylindrical sleeve elements each pivotally attached at one inner edge to said axis member; said sleeve elements having outwardly flared upper mouth portions, and wing elements extending outwardly of the snufier from said mouth portions; fixed detents on the upper portion of said mounting plate and pivotally engaged with portions of said wing elements; and manually operable actuating means for tilting said base plate and said axis member, whereby said sleeve elements may be separated to release a cigarette contained therebetween.

5. A cigarette shutter and ejector combination according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means comprises a rigid yoke pivotally connected to the end of said base plate remote from said mounting plate; said yoke having arms projecting externally of said ashtray, and manually engageable push means on said arms.

6. A cigarette snutfer and ejector combination according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating bar extending through the ashtray adjacent said mounting plate and engaging an upper portion of said axis member; and a push plate pivotally attached to said ashtray and connected to said actuating bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,014,030 Punke Sept. 10, 1935 2,068,999 Toermeu Jan. 26, 1937 2,722,939 Smillie Nov. 8, 1955 .2,779,341 Smillie Jan. 29, 1957 2,790,446 Smillie Apr. 30, 1957 

